title: History of weight control attempts among adolescent girls with loss of control eating.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Loss of control (LOC) eating and a weight control attempt (WCA) history during adolescence are important behavioral risk factors for eating disorders and obesity. The current study investigated the significance of the presence of a WCA history among adolescent girls with LOC eating.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 114 obesity-prevention-seeking 12-17-year-old (M = 14.5, SD = 1.7 years) girls who were between the 75th and 97th body mass index (BMI) percentile (BMI-z: M = 1.5, SD = 0.3) and reported LOC eating episodes during the previous month (M = 4.0, SD = 4.9 episodes; Median = 2.0). Measures included the Eating Disorder Examination to assess LOC eating, eating pathology, and WCA history, and self-report questionnaires for symptoms of general psychopathology. Eating behavior was observed during a laboratory meal designed to capture a LOC eating episode.
  
  
  RESULTS
  67.5% reported a WCA history. As compared to girls without a WCA history (no-WCA), those with a WCA history (WCA) had greater disordered eating attitudes and depressive symptoms (ps < .04). There were no significant group differences in BMI-z or LOC eating frequency (ps > .10). During the laboratory meal, WCA consumed less energy from snack-type foods than no-WCA (M = 245.0, SD = 156.1 vs. M = 341.6, SD = 192.3 kcal; p = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reported WCAs are highly prevalent and are associated with greater psychopathology symptoms among adolescent girls with LOC eating. Prospective data are needed to determine whether these overlapping risk behaviors confer differential vulnerability for developing eating disorders and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vannucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Shomaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sbrocco
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health.
authors.forename: Merel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozlosky
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics.
authors.forename: Jack A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yanovski
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanofsky-Kraff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss